For Immediate Release
Contact: Ed Levin
Publicity Director
Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta
levins51@verizon.net
610-246-5902
While America prepares to celebrate the 250th birthday of the country the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta will celebrate the 50th anniversary of women competing in an event that was exclusive to men from 1934 until 1976. In 1976, the first-year women competed at the Dad Vail, Ithaca College, who just introduced rowing at the school one year earlier, had the distinct honor of capturing the Women’s Varsity Heavyweight Eight. To celebrate this milestone, these first female winners of, will return to the regatta this year.
Additionally, the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee is pleased to announce the creation of a new men’s and women’s points trophy for small boats teams that compete each event excluding the Varsity 8+). These point trophies will be awarded to those programs who only compete in the small boat events (i.e., singles, pairs, doubles, fours) and accumulate the most points.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta will receive four automatic qualifiers for the Intercollegiate Rowing Association’s (IRA) Men’s Varsity Heavyweight Eight. The IRA event is limited to 24 entries.
“This will be an exciting year for the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta,” said Kirsten Morasco, President of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee. “We are excited to celebrate the milestone of women competing in such a prestigious event and we are honored the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta is an automatic qualifier for the 2026 IRA National Championship.”
The Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta will be staged this year on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, New Jersey on Friday, May 8 and Saturday May 9. All the exciting action will be available on our live stream link. To view, please go to www.dadvail.org.
